Improvement in harness-pads



N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D c.

dni-1rd tant MARTIN wroNn, or strain, onto.

Letters Patent No. 112,073, dated February 21, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS-PADS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all 'whom it may concerny Be it known that I, MARTIN W. POND, of Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Selfadjusting Harness-Pads, of which thefollowing is a full and complete description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making apart of this speciication, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the pad.

Figure 2 is a view of the upper side.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section.

Figures 4' 'and 5 are detached sections.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

This invention hasfor its object the construction' of a harness-pad or saddle sothat it willv adjust itself to the shape of the horses back, and thereby prevent chafing the spine or otherwise injuring the animal, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing, ng. 1, A represents the ilexiblc tree or back-band of the saddle, made of one or more thicknesses lof leather, whereby the two pads B C are connected to each other, and in which the terrets Dand bridle-hook E are secured, all ot' which are or may be made in the usual manner, and of the usual material.

To the upper side orb-ack of each pad, and inclosed within the outer covering of the same, is secured a plate of metal, F, iig. 3; Ya detached view of said plate is shown in figs. 4 and 5. The plate, as will be seen, is curved longitudinally, so as to conform in part to the rounduess4 of the horses back. T

The underside of the plate is provided with ribs, G, for its greater strength and rigidity. The plate, as will be seen, forms the upper side or back of each of the pads, which is, therefore, rendered stiff and unyielding, whereas the lower side or body is soft and pliable.

' The upper ends of each plate approximate near to each other immediately underthe hook at the point a, leaving a short space between the two ends, as seen in iig. 3, the pads being connected to eachother by'their covering, Iand also more strongly by the tree or back band A, and, if need be, by additional pieces of leather. By thus allowing the ends of the two pads to approach each other, but not so close as to touch, makes a flexible point between them, so'that the saddle, or the two pads composing the saddle, are free to spread from or to approach each other', in consequence of said joint; whereas the back ot the pads does not bend, but remains rigid and stiff in its shape, in consequence of the inflexible nature of the plates.

rIhe practical working of this harness-saddle or pads is as follows: y

It is well known that'backs of horses vary much in shape, some being broad and round, others thin and sunken; hence, a saddle that wiil't one horse will not another; therefore, to have a harness-saddle that will fit or adjust itself to different horses is the purpose of making a saddle or pads in the manner as above described, which,.when placed upon thel animfls back, will rest thereon on the fullest parts of the pads, as at l).

Now, on tightening the pads to the horse by means of the girth, the ends c of the pads will draw toward the animals body.

That part of the pad b serves as a fulcrum, and will cause the junction of the two pads, -or the joint at a, to rise upward from the spine of the back, as indicated by the dotted lines e, thereby bringing the weight of the saddle upon the swell b of the pads, which will rest upon the back of the horse on each side of the spine, and not draw down upon it, which it would do if the back of the pads was not made rigid by the plates, but made iiexible, in the ordinary Way; hence no strain nor weight of the saddle comes upon the horses spine, though it may be prominent, as in lean horses; therefore, it cannot be chafed and become sore by the abrasion of the saddle, as the tendency of the saddle, or that part thereof connecting the pads, is at all` times to rise upward above the spine, in consequence of the lower ends of the pads being drawn down against the sides of the horse by the girths, The more prominent part of the pads acts as a fulcrum for elevating the upper part of the saddle above the spine ofthe back.

The plates, instead of being secured in the back of the pads, can be attached to the under side of the back-band A, obtaining thereby the same results.

I am aware that harness-saddles have been made so as to be adjustable to the backs of horses; therefore, I do not claim, broadly, au adjustable harnesssaddle. Such saddles have been made with the pads connected by means of an iron jointed bridge or tree, the pads being held thereby a considerable distance apart on each side of the spine.

The pads, being of a iexible character, would hug closely to the animals back, and which, on being drawn tight by lthe baud, would draw the bridge down upon the spine instead of raising it upward, as is the case of tightening up the band attached to my saddle.

Also, by connecting the pads by a jointed tree adds greatly to the expense of the harness, and' also to its weight; whereas my manner of making the saddle is much less expensive, and is lighter, and is less liable to 'become worn and look shabby.

What I claim as my invention, and desircto secure by Letters Patent, is-- The plates F, F Aand pads B G, in combination with the. flexible back-band A, constructed and arranged to operate in thev manner described.

y MARTIN W. POND. Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, J. H. BURRIDGE. 

